Prayagraj: Gearing up to blunt a possible third wave affecting children, the health department has set a target of distributing 29,000 free medicine kits with syrups and dissolvable tablets to keep kids battle ready.
The distribution will begin from June 27 in the district and five gram sabha monitoring committees in each block would be given 20 -20 ( four categories) medical kits as a precautionary measure.
Children under the age of 18 have been divided into four categories — 0-1 years, 1-5 years, 5-12 years and 12-18 years — and different medicines have been prepared for each category.
A senior health official said, “The health department will start the distribution of medical kit for children symbolically from June 27, and five gram sabha nigrani samiti of each block will be given medical kits with a view that these kits could be utilised whenever required.
The dosage will be adjusted as per age and weight.” Officials said, kits containing paracetamol tablets, ORS packets, multivitamins and Ivermectin tablets have been prepared on the suggestion of medical experts and paediatricians.
Children will also be tested for Covid in case of third wave, officials added, and shifted to a health facility if required.
The state government has planned to prepare around 30 lakh pamphlets-cum-envelopes in which the medical kits for children will be distributed.
These kits for children would include syrups and chewable tablets of lesser dosage than adults.
“We have received medicine kits for children at community health centres as it is being widely feared that children could be infected in the third wave” said a senior health official adding “these medicine kits are being readied and would be dispatched to villages and blocks concerned whenever and wherever required”.
Moreover, there are also plans to set up a 100-bed paediatric ICU in the city by the end of this month .
Besides, PICU and isolation facilities would be in place.
District level hospitals will also have 25- 30 bedded PICUs and isolation wards.
Community health care centres in far-flung areas will also receive PICU facilities.
Paediatricians, gynaecologist, health workers, paramedical, nursing and other para medical staff are being trained to man these facilities,” officials said.